Walking toy



Jam-26, 1943. TIA-,RYEPPER 2,309,213

WALKING TOY Filed Sept. 29, 1941 INVENTOR TA FODGEE A. REP/ 5R ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 26, 1943 UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE,

2,309,213 N IQY Theodore A. Repper, Franklin, Ohio Application September 29, 1941, Serial No. 412.742

Claims.

This invention relates to walking toys and the primary object of the invention is to provide a toy of such a character that it may be manipulated by a child or other person riding thereon to cause it to move forwardly step by step,

A further object of the invention is to provide such a toy which will be of a simple inexpensive construction and will comprise a minimum number of relatively movable parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy of such a character that the step by step movement thereof may be effected by the shifting of the weight of the person thereon from one position to another position.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a toy consisting of but two relatively movable members and having the means for supporting a person thereon so arranged that the weight of said person may be quickly shifted from one position to another position with a minimum of eiTort.

Other objects of the invention may appear as the device is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a toy embodying my invention, showing the same in its normal or idle position; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the toy tilted rearwardly from its normal position; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the toy tilted forwardly from its normal position; and Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the toy in the position shown in Fig. 1.

The toy comprises two members connected one to the other for relative movement about a horizontal axis and having at their lower ends separate means for supporting the same for'rocking movement on a suitable supporting surface, herein referred to as a floor. The means for supporting the respective members may take various forms and is herein referred to as rockers.

The two members may be of any suitable shape or shapes and the members themselves as well as the parts carried thereby may be arranged in various ways. In the preferred form of the toy, herein illustrated, one of the members, 5; is of narrow elongate shape and is arranged in a substantially upright position. It preferably comprises two parts, such as parallel strips, rigidly connected one to the other in laterally spaced relation. This member 5 may be supported on one or more rockers but I prefer to employ two rockers spaced laterally one from the other, as shown at 6, so as to resist any tendency of the toy to tilt laterally. These rockers may be connected with the member 5 in y suitable manner and. s re s own. the are formed separately from the member itself and are. rigidly connected to that member and one to the other by bolts 1, which bolts also serve to connect the two parts of the member 5 one to the other. If desired, means may be provided to limit the rearward tilting of the member 5 and. in the present instance, the rockers 5 are ovi it rea ward xte sio s e. floor en: a in u s. of hi h are b ta t al y straight. as Shown t 8 At tsup er an the upright member 5 s prefe a ly rov ded w aha de wh n the m re h w om.- prises a pin extending through the member and beyond the sides thereof to fo m handles 9. If es ed a am nt dfiY ti SW sa sim ia: tion of a horses head, may be attached to the upper end of the member 5.

he e i emb r. l0. s ivotal n ected with the upright member 5 on a horizontal axis so s to er i t e el pi o a o me t of the two members. In the form shown, the secd em r 0 is subst n ly n e f rm f a r an e w t t ces ut away n xt n etw en t two pa o e up t membe 5 an is v al y o n c ed e et y a vot i I 1 xten i hrou the ri ht member 5, at a point spaced a substantial distance above the rockers 6, and through the second member I0 at a point nearthe upper edge thereof. This second member projects forwardly and rearwardly beyond the respective edges of the up: right m er and s. so arran ed w th rela ion thereto that the forward portion thereof may project downwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, or forwardly, as shown in Fig. 2. This forward portion of the second me ber s pr vided wi h roc ers l2 arranged to engage the floor in front of the rockers 6. There are preferably two ofthese ker p ed at ally ne f om the o her a distance somewhat greater than the distance beE- twe n the re kers 6. and hey may be secured ,to the member ID in any suitable manner. As here shown, a base plate 13 is secured to a projects laterally beyond both sides of the mem; ber 10 and the rockers [2 are secured to the lat: eral portions of this base, the base being braced against the member ID by brackets M.

The arrangement of the two members andof the pivotal connection between the same is such that when the members are in their normal or idle positions the rockers of both members will have supportin n a ement wi h t e floor in slightly overlapping relation one to. the other, as, shown in Fig. 1, and the rocking movement of the toy in either direction from its normal position will lift one or the other of the pairs of rockers out of engagement with the floor so that the lifted pair may be moved forwardly with relation to the other pair and, when the toy is rocked in the other direction, will engage the floor in an advanced position. Thus by alternately lifting and advancing the two pairs of rockers the toy may be caused to advance step by step or tofwa To enable the alternate lifting and advancing of the rockers to be easily accomplished the toy is provided with means whereby the weight of a f person thereon may be supported successively in different positions with relation to the members and 10, so as to cause the toy to rock first in one direction and then in the other direction. In the illustrated construction the rear portion of the second member ii] is provided with a seat I5 which is preferably formed separate from the member and adjustably secured thereto by means of bolts 16 extending through slots I! in the member I0. The base I3 on the forward portion of the second member Hl'constitutes a foot rest and the seat [5- is so arranged with relation thereto that the feet of a person sitting on the seat I5 may be supported on the foot rest on the respective sides of the member lil, thus permitting the weight of a person to be shifted from the seat to the foot rest, or vice versa, to' cause the rocking movement of the two members and the relative pivotal movement thereof. This pivotal movement may be limited in any suitable manner, as by a stop pin or bolt I8 mounted in the'upright member 5 and extending through an opening I 9 formed in that part of the second member which lies between the two parts of the upright member. When such a person rests his weight on the seat IS the toy as a whole will rock rearwardly on the rear rockers 6 and the second member 10 will move about its pivotal connection with the upright member 5 to move the front rockers l2 upwardly and forwardly with relation to the rear rockers 6. When that weight is shifted to the foot rest iii the toy rocks forwardly on the rear rockers until the front rockers engage the floor in an advanced position, and then continues to rock forwardly on the front rockers; thus moving the rear rockers upwardly out of engagement with the floor and releasing them for forward movement with relation to the front rockersJ-This forward movement may be imparted to the'rear rockers by gravity or in any other suitable manner but I prefer to provide spring means for impartingthis forward movement to the rockers to insure their prompt forward movement when disengaged from the floor. In the present construction a coiled spring 20 is connected at its front end with the forward portion of a second member 19, as by means of a hook 21 rigidly secured to that member, and is connected at its rear end with the lower end of the upright member 5, as by a hook 22.

' When the toy is in its normal or idle position both pairs of rockers will be in supporting engagement with the floor and they will be held in their overlapping relation by the spring 20. A person wishing to use the toy places his feet on the foot rest, on the respective sides of the second member), and lowers his weight onto the seat IS. The weight thus imposed upon the second member I!) rocks both members rearwardly on the rear rockers and also moves the second member In about its pivotal connection with the upright member 5- until the rear end of the opening 19 in the member 10 engages the stop pin l8, thus disengaging the front members from the floor and moving the same forwardly with relation to the rear rockers, as shown in Fig. 2. With the members in these relative positions the weight of the person is shifted from the seat to the foot rest I3 and causes both of the members to rock forwardly on the rear rockers 6 until the front rockers l2 again engage the floor and then forwardly on the front rockers until the rear rockers have been disengaged from the floor and released for forward movement, by the spring 20 or otherwise, as shown in Fig. 3. Thus the front rockers are caused to engage the floor at a point in advance of the positions which they occupied originally, as shown in Fig. l, and when the weight is again shifted to the seat [5 the toy is rocked rearwardly on the front rockers until the rear rockers engage the floor, in their advanced positions, and then on the rear rockers to again lift the front rockers and move the same forwardly to another advanced floor engaging position. By a continuous repetition of this cycle of operations the toy may be caused to advance step by step.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art. Y

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: N V i 1. A walking toy comprising two members connected one with the other for relative movement about a common horizontal axis and having at their lower ends floor engaging parts forming rockers, said rockers being located one in front of the other and so arranged that the rocking movement of said toy in either direction will move one or the other of said rockers out of en-' gagement with the floor, aseat and a foot rest carried by one of said members and so arranged that in all operative positions of said toy they will be located respectively in the rear of and in the front of the vertical plane of said axis and the weight of a person on said. seat will rock said toy rearwardly from its idle position and move the front rocker forwardly and upwardly with relation to therear rocker and said weight when shifted to said foot rest will rock said toy forwardly to cause said front rocker to engage the floor in an advanced position andthe momentum of said toy will rock the same on said front rocker to release the rear rocker for rearward move: ment with relation to said front rocker. g

2. A walking toy comprising two members connected one with the other for relative movement about a common horizontal axis and having at their lower ends floor. engaging parts forming rockers, said rockers being located one in front of the other and so arranged that therocking movement of said toy. in either direction will move one or the other of said rockers out of engagement with the floor, a seat so arranged. on the member having the front rocker that the weight of a person thereon will rock said. toy rearwardly and "release said front rocker for'forward movement with relationto the'rear rocker, and a footrest so arranged on said member having the front rocker that the weight of said person when shifted from said seat tq said. foot rest will rock said toy forwardly-and themomenturn of said toy will rock the same on said front 7 rocker to release said rear rocker for forward movement with relation to said front rocker.

3. In a walking toy, a substantially upright member, a floor engaging rocker secured to the lower end of said member, a second member pivotally connected between its front and rear ends with said upright member, a floor engaging rocker secured to the forward portion ofsaid' second member for movement into and out of engagement with the floor in front of the first mentioned rocker, a seat supported on the rear portion of said second member, a foot rest on the forward portion of said second member, and means to move said rear rocker with relation to the front rocker.

4. In a walking toy, a substantially upright member, a second member, mean for pivotally connecting said members one withthe other for movement about a common axis, said second member having portions extending respectively forwardly and rearwardly beyond said upright member in all relativ positions of said members, a seat and a foot rest carried respectively by the rear and front portions of said second member, and floor engaging rockers secured respectively to the lower portion of said upright member and to the front portion of said second member, both rockers having supporting engagement with the floor when said toy is in its normal upright position and is unoccupied, said seat being so spaced from said pivotal connection that the weight of a person thereon will rock said toy rearwardly from said normal position and move the front portion of said second member upwardly and forwardly with relation to said upright member, and said foot rest being so arranged with relation to said pivotal connection that the weight of said person when shifted from said seat to said foot rest will rock said toy forwardly and the momentum of said toy will rock the same on the front rocker to release the rear rocker for forward movement.

5. In a Walking toy, a substantially upright member, rockers secured to the lower end of said upright member, a second member extending across said upright member and pivotally connected therewith at a point spaced from both ends of both members, said second member having a downwardly extending portion in front of said upright member, rockers secured to said downwardly extending portion of said second member, a foot rest secured to said second member adjacent the rockers thereon, a seat carried by said second member on that side of said upright member opposite said foot rest, and means to limit the relative movement of said members, whereby the weight of a person on said seat will rock said toy rearwardly and move the rockers on said second member upwardly and forwardly and the weight of said person when shifted from said seat to said foot rest will rock said toy forwardly and the momentum of said toy will rock the same on the rocker of said second member to move the rockers on said upright members out of engagement with the floor and thereby release the same for forward movement with relation to the rockers on said second member.

6. In a walking toy, a substantially upright member, rockers secured to the lower end of said member, a hand grip carried by the upper portion of said member, a second member pivotally connected with said upright member between said hand grip and said rockers and extending forwardly and rearwardly beyond said upright member, rockers secured to the forward portion of said second member and arranged to engage the floor in front: of the rockers on said upright member, a seat carried by the rear portion of said second member and so spaced from said pivotal connection that. the weight of a person on said'seati will rock said toy rearwardly and move said second member about said pivotal connection to move the rockers thereon upwardly and forwardly, a foot rest carriedby the forward portion of said second member in a position to support the feet of a person on said seat and to rock said toy forwardly and move the rockers on said second member into engagement with the floor in an advanced position when the weight of said person is transferred from said seat to said foot rest, and means to limit the relative movement of said members.

7. In a walking toy, a substantially upright member comprising two parts rigidly connected one t the other in laterally spaced relation, a pair of laterally spaced rockers rigidly connected with the lower end of said member, a second member pivotally mounted between the two parts of said upright member and extending forwardly and rearwardly beyond the latter, a pair of laterally spaced rockers connected with the forward portion of said second member for movement into and out of engagement with the floor in front of the first mentioned rockers, a seat and a foot rest so connected with said second member that the weight of a person in said seat will rock said members rearwardly and move the rockers on said second member upwardly and forwardly and said weight when shifted from said seat to said foot rest will cause the rockers on said second member to engage the floor in an advanced position and to rock forwardly on the floor to disengage the rockers on said upright member from the floor and permit the same to move forwardly with relation to the rockers on said second memher.

8. In a walking toy, a substantially upright member comprising two parts rigidly connected one to the other in laterally spaced relation, a pair of laterally spaced rockers rigidly connected with the lower end of said member, a second member pivotally mounted between the two parts of said upright member and extending forwardly and rearwardly beyond the latter, a seat supported on the rear portion of said second member, a pair of laterally spaced rockers connected with the forward portion of said second member for movement into and out of engagement with the floor in front of the first mentioned rockers, a foot rest on said second member adjacent the rockers thereon, said seat and said foot rest being so arranged with relation to said members that the weight of a person on said seat will rock said members rearwardly and move said second member about its pivotal axis to disengage the rockers thereon from the floor and, move the same forwardly, and the weight of said person when shifted from said seat to said foot rest will rock said members forwardly to engage the last mentioned rockers with the floor in an advanced position and the momentum of said toy will disengage the rockers on said upright member from the floor, said members having cooperating parts to limit the relative pivotal movement thereof, and spring means tending to move the rockers on said upright members forwardly when they have been disengaged from the floor.

9. In a walking toy, a substantially upright member comprising two parts rigidly connected on to the other in laterally spaced relation, a

pair of laterally spaced rockers rigidly connected with the lower end of said member tosupport the same on the floor, a second member pivotally mounted between the two parts of said upright member and extending forwardly and rearwardly beyond the same, a base secured to the forward portion of said second member and extending laterally beyond the sides thereof to form a foot rest, a pair of rockers secured to said base on the respective sides of said second member and movable into and out of engagement with the floor in front of the rockers on said upright member, a seat on the rear portion of said second member, said seat and said foot rest be so arranged that the weight of a person on said seat will rock said members rearwardly and move the rockers on said second member forwardly with relation to the rockers on said upright member, and the weight of said person when shifted from said seat to said foot rest will rock said members forwardly and the momentum of said toy will rock the same on the rockers of said second member to move the rockers on said upright member out of engagement with the floor and thus release the same for forward movement with relation to the rockers on said second member.

10. In a walking toy, a substantially upright member comprising two parts rigidly connected one to the other in laterally spaced relation, a

pair of laterally spaced rockers rigidly connected with the lower end of said member to support the same on the floor, a second member pivotally mounted between the two parts of said upright member and extending forwardly and rearwardly beyond the same, a base secured to the forward portion of said' second member and extending laterally beyond the sides thereof to form a foot rest, a pair of rockers secured to said base on the respective sides of said second member and movable into and out of engagement with the floor infront of the rockers on said upright member, a seat on the. rear portion of said second member, said seat and said foot rest being so arranged that the weight of a person on said seat will rock said members rearwardly and move the rockers on said second member forwardly with relation to the rockers on said upright member, and the weight of said person when shifted from said seat to said foot rest will rock said members forwardly and the movement of said toy will rock the same on the rockers of said second member to move the rockers on said upright member out of engagement with the floor and thus release the same for forward movement with relation to the rockers on said second member, and spring means for imparting said forward movement to the rockers on said upright members when so re leased.

THEODORE A. REPPER. 

